Condolence reference in memory of martyrs of Army Public School Peshawar

Milli Yekjehti Council held a condolence reference in memory of the victims of massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar.

This barbaric incident grieved the hearts of people across Pakistan. The meeting besides condemning in strong terms this heinous act of terrorism expressed solidarity with the families of the martyrs. The reference was attended by MYC President Dr. Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair, Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, Deputy Secretary General Saqib Akber, Pir Abdul Shakoor Naqshbandi, Allama Amin Shaheedi, Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi, Dr. Farid and Qazi Zafar-ul-Haq. The council’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa leadership and large number of constituent party leaders were also present on the occasion. Khyber-Pakhtunkhaw chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami acted as the host. The meeting started with the recitation of the Quranic verses which was followed by offering Dua for the martyrs. The condolence meeting was moderated by MYC Secretary General Liaquat Baloch.

In his inaugural address, MYC President Dr. Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair said: This tragic incident has united the whole nation. The nation has demonstrated unity on numerous occasions in the past as well, but the government failed to make the most of the opportunity. In these circumstances the responsibility of the MYC has increased manifold. For a long time an operation against terrorists and other law breakers is going on in Karachi but lack of resolve on part of the Govt and other vested interests have prevented authorities to act decisively against the criminals. Now it is said that a policy is being formulated. Has the previous policy failed? This is the question that comes to mind. The nation is in a dilemma. It is feeling insecure. A former interior minister is talking of the presence of Daish in Pakistan while the incumbent interior minister is denying the same. It is our responsibility today to give a direction to the nation. I am hopeful that the MYC will be able to put forward suggestions which will help to devise a policy to weed out terrorism from the country.

Addressing the condolence meeting, Liaqat Baloch said that the MYC came into being to unite the nation. Praising late Qazi Hussain Ahmed for his role in this regard he said that time has come to make the council more vibrant and active. He underlined the need to form a committee in this connection. He said that efforts should be made to include those parties in the council which till date have not become part of it. He asked for holding meetings with the heads and leaders of all Madrassahs and parties in this respect. He said that if secular parties can come together for achieving a goal, then why religious parties cannot unite for a common cause.

Speaking on the occasion Saqib Akber said the central government has also recognized the importance of the MYC and it is being said that to promote unity and solidarity in the country, the Govt will soon establish contacts with the leaders of the council. He also put stress on making the council more active saying for this to happen it was imperative to include other parties in the council.

Amin Shaheedi, the MYC Finance Secretary and Deputy Secretary General Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, said that since the founding of the MYC the parties belonging to all schools of thought have come together for a greater cause. He said that if we failed to make any impact despite such a gathering, then there was a fault with our policy and we should look for the same. Is the philosophy of our existence to only censure and express sorrow in face of a tragic incident, he questioned. He stressed for understanding the difficulties and reasons in the way of making the council more dynamic and vibrant. He called for making fresh efforts to rejuvenate this coalition. He said we don’t have weapons to confront and wipe out ongoing terrorism in the country, but we have the power of religion that we can make use of to fight the menace.

Central leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (senior) Pir Abdul Shakoor Naqshbandi said that the tragic incident of 16th December has saddened us. He said those massacred on that day were just like our own children. Talking about the MYC, he said that late Qazi Hussain Ahmed was proud of the council. He said that he was the moving spirit behind it stressing to emulate him in this respect. He said that we were feeling the same amount of grief at the gruesome Peshawar School attack that we feel at the deaths caused by US drone strikes. Saying that peace could’t be established by resorting to force, he called upon the people sitting in the Parliament to pay heed in this respect. He underlined the need to summon a conference at Islamabad level saying that the decisions taken in it should be conveyed to the govt.

JI's central leader Dr Farid Paracha said that the word condemnation for the crime of such an enormity was not enough. He lamented that every so often such tragic occurrences were taking place in Pakistan and that secular forces were using these incidents to malign Islam and its traditions. He stressed that the MYC should play its role forcefully to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy suggesting that the council should conduct conferences at the provincial level in this regard. He welcomed the decision of the Govt regarding lifting of moratorium on death penalty. He said that those forces that were against carrying out executions had got a shock due to this pronouncement.

Secretary General Islami Tehreek Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi said that very few incidents like Peshawar could be traced in the history of the world. He said that seeing piles of corpses sent shivers down one’s spine and that such incidents had defamed Pakistan and Islam globally. He said: We were saying right from the beginning that terrorism had no religion rather it was being used by the enemy to further its agenda. Welcoming the Govt’s position on the implementation of death penalty he cautioned against hanging only those criminals who were the enemies of particular institutions demanding that executions be carried out without any discrimination. Quoting the Quran which says “And there is life for you in (the law of) retaliation”, he underlined the need to implement the law in letter and spirit and in this regard, saying it was necessary to provide protection to the judges and lawyers. He said the time had come to extend the scope of the ongoing Zarb-i-Azab operation to cities. He called for establishing military courts in the country to provide immediate justice.

MYC central leader Qazi Zafar-ul-Haq said that Pakistan was not run according to the basis on which it came into existence and that people were suffering because of this ingratitude. He said that there should have been supremacy of the Quran and the Sunnah in our country, but unfortunately that did not happen. He said that our institutions were handing down extra-judicial sentences, which was against the Quran and the Sunnah, and called for educating and provide guidance to these institutions. He said that according to the constitution of the country the absolute sovereignty rests with Allah, but the state has been declared free and independent in some provisions. Sovereignty of the ultimate authority has also been set aside in the process of legislation. He called for removing these defects and flaws in the constitution. He said that the purpose of the MYC should not only be to forge unity among different sects, but this coalition should also play its part for establishing Islamic system of governance in the country.

Jamiat Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Abdul Salam Salafi Hazarvi condemning the massacre of children said we must ponder why these incidents were taking place. He said Quran says that there is life in retaliation and as such we must demand of the Govt to carry out death penalties without any discrimination. He said that the killers and criminals should be punished publicly without observing any protocol. He said that according to the Quran the executions should be carried out in front of people to serve as a severe warning to others. He appealed to the leaders of the council to unequivocally condemn all manifestations of terrorism to clear up the confusion.

Representative of Wafaq-ul-Madaris al-Shia Maulana Tahir Raza Kazmi termed the lifting of moratorium on executions as a very important and welcome step.

Jamiat Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Maqsood Ahmed Salafi said the incident of Peshawar shocked the entire nation. He said that the MYC was a platform which had the capacity to work for the unity and solidarity of the whole nation. He underlined the need to promote harmony among people at ideological and intellectual level. Lauding the role of MYC in face of Takfiri ideology he said now the time had come for it to play its role in confronting terrorism.

JI KPK-chapter Naib Amir Dr. Mohammad Khalil thanked all participants and said that today's meeting would give courage to the people of Peshawar in this hour of grief. He said that the main cause of such incidents was the lawlessness in the country. He lamented that the more one becomes powerful and influential the more he violates the law.

Provincial head of Tehrik-e-Islami KPK-chapter Allama Ramazan Tauqeer said that the MYC was a national asset which represents the whole Ummah. He said that he would ask to Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair to carry forward the mission of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani.

Allama Abid Hussain Shakeri of Madrasai Arif al Hussaini quoted a Hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or is being oppressed.” People asked, "O Messenger of Allah! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others." He said that he shall request the MYC leaders to express their viewpoints regarding suicide bombings, kidnappings for ransom and target killings in unambiguous terms so that no confusion is remained in this regard. He said people often interpret it wrongly when we make inexplicit and vague declarations.

A communiqué was issued at the end of the condolence reference. Following are the main points of the declaration:

The incident of Peshawar is a national tragedy and this meeting expresses complete solidarity with the families of the victims.

We welcome the unity expressed by the national leadership and constitution of the National Action Plan in the wake of the Peshawar school tragedy. We demand of the leadership to take practical measures instead of issuing statements of condemnation.

Terrorists and killers must be executed. Those responsible for terrorist activities, mischief, sowing the seeds of hatred and creating divisions do not deserve any kind of sympathy. These criminals and mischief mongers must be treated according to the book and no external or internal pressure of any kind should be accepted in this connection.

Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law must be ensured. The constitution of Pakistan must be implemented in letter and spirit to achieve the objectives of the creation of Pakistan.

Terrorism, sabotage, murder of innocent people and children and target killings are all reprehensible and contemptible acts. All the religious parties should unanimously condemn every kind of terrorism.

The coming together on a day’s notice shows that the religious leadership gives extraordinary importance to the MYC.

Seerat conferences will be held at provincial levels in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal. A grand Seerat conference will also be held at the central level.

We strongly condemn the tragic killing of Dr Khalid Soomro. We also denounce the target killings of scholars, intellectuals, lawyers, doctors and other personalities across the country.